Chapter 15 #2
“Okay.” Lauren looked both relieved and terrified as she made the call.
“Lieutenant Olson?” Grady listened as she repeated his instructions.
“Yes, the FBI is at my place, but we don’t have time to wait for them to show.
You should already have squads in the area, don’t you?
Okay, thanks.” She lowered the phone. “They’ll be there in five to ten minutes. ”
He nodded, slowing to make the turn onto Miller street. “Good. Look for building number 910.”
“I think that’s it.” Lauren leaned forward in her seat. “Third on the west side of the street.”
It was indeed a red-brick house with black shutters that was sandwiched between two multifamily units.
There was no black SUV parked on the street, but he saw there was a single-car garage door that was closed.
The vehicle was likely inside. He drove slowly past the house that had lights shining through the curtained windows.
The setup did not work to their advantage. There was barely a two-foot gap between the rental house and the buildings on either side. He racked his brain for a way to get inside as he drove around the block.
“What’s the plan?” Lauren asked, when he pulled over to park several doors down from the rental. There was no street parking allowed, so he kept the vehicle idling. “Are we going to wait for the police to arrive?”
He blew out a breath and turned to look at her. “I’m going to check the place out. You stay here.” When she opened her mouth to argue, he held up his hand. “I need you to watch for the police, and I won’t be long. I just want to know what we’re dealing with.”
“Okay.” Her expression was one of resolve. “I hope you can see Lucy.”
“Me too.” He slid out from behind the wheel and jogged across the street. Waiting for the police was the smart way to go, but he was concerned about what Simon and Jerry Cromwell might do.
Jerry, in particular, had nothing to lose. The guy was dying. And Grady had already killed his son Shane. Simon must have known his brother was either dead or arrested.
Either way, Grady couldn’t ignore the deep sense of foreboding as he cautiously approached the rental house.
Silently, he prayed for God to grant him the strength and wisdom he needed to rescue Lucy.
* * *
Lauren sat for a full five minutes before she pushed out of the car.
There was no sign of the police yet, so she followed Grady’s footsteps and ran across the road.
The red-brick rental house was cute enough.
Sandwiched between the apartment buildings, she could see why the owners rented the place out.
There was no question in her mind that Nelson was involved in this. He’d likely convinced his girlfriend, Karla, to cooperate to get the money. Then once he was released from prison, they could go anywhere in the world to be together.
When she got closer to the narrow gap between the buildings, her eyes widened in shock when she realized Grady was scaling the house with one hand on each side of the narrow gap, along with both feet also propped on either sider.
With his hands and feet braced on each building, he was painstakingly making his way up to the second-story window.
The one with a light glowing from inside.
She held her breath as Grady used his incredible strength to move each foot, then each hand to get higher. When he reached the window, he leaned over to look inside. Then he lightly tapped on the window, drawing someone’s attention.
Lucy? Had he found her daughter?
Lauren risked a glance toward the street. Still no police response. Turning her attention back to Grady and the second-story window, her eyes widened when she realized the window was opening.
Then Lucy’s head poked out.
Lauren swallowed a gasp, watching as Grady spoke softly to Lucy.
She moved closer. “Grady? I’m here. Hand Lucy down to me.”
He looked down at her, then nodded. “Move back, Lucy. I’m coming in.”
He was? She wanted to protest as Lucy’s head disappeared. In a swift movement, Grady propped himself up by his legs only until he could grab the windowsill with both hands. He pulled himself up and then climbed inside.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized he was safe. Then he leaned out to look down at her. “Ready?”
“Yes.” She lifted her arms as high as she could.
Grady helped Lucy out of the window, holding her daughter firmly as he gently lowered her out.
“I’m scared,” Lucy whimpered.
“I know, but I’m here and so is your mom.
We won’t let you fall.” Grady’s voice was reassuring.
Lauren braced herself for the impact. Getting Lucy out of there before the police arrived would be amazing.
If the little girl didn’t fall and break her legs.
“Easy now,” Grady murmured, holding Lucy beneath her arms and lowering her down.
Lauren could feel Lucy’s shoes touch the palms of her hands.
Lauren’s cheerleading days were a long time ago, so she didn’t have the strength or agility as when she was in high school.
Then Grady lowered Lucy a little more, leaning so far out the window now that she feared he’d fall.
Lauren wrapped her arms around Lucy’s thighs, holding tight.
“Can you brace your hands on the wall?” Lauren whispered.
“Yes.” Lucy’s voice was strained.
“Grady, let her go.” When he did, her muscles bunched with the effort of holding Lucy. But the little girl leaned against the wall, easing the strain. Lauren slowly lowered herself to the ground until Lucy’s feet touched the earth.
They’d done it! Lucy was safe! She glanced up at the window, expecting Grady to be climbing out to join them.
But he wasn’t there.
“Come, Lucy!” Lauren took her daughter’s hand and led her out to the street where she’d left the rental.
A police car rolled silently down the street toward them.
She lifted her arm to wave, then continued taking Lucy to the vehicle.
“Get in the back.” She opened the rear passenger-side door.
“The police are going to help arrest the men who took you.”
“Stay with me,” Lucy begged.
She hesitated, glancing back at the house. Grady was inside with at least two kidnappers, maybe three if Karla was in there too. The police cruiser pulled in behind them. “Lucy, I need to warn the police that Grady is in there. Then I’ll be back, okay?”
Lucy nodded, shivering. The little girl had been taken from the ballroom and didn’t have a coat. She closed the door and hurried over to the police officers who were getting out of the car.
“I’m Lauren Chandler. My daughter Lucy was kidnapped by the men inside that home.” She gestured to the red-brick house. “Grady McFarland was able to crawl inside to rescue Lucy. She’s safe now. But he’s still inside. And I’m sure the kidnappers are armed.”
“Get into the car. We’ll take over from here,” the officer said.
“Okay, but don’t shoot Grady. He’s not one of the kidnappers.” She was afraid the cops would go in with guns blazing.
A second squad arrived with two more officers. The four of them talked for a moment before splitting into two teams to approach the house.
Lauren had crawled in beside Lucy when she heard the sound of gunfire. Her heart lodged in her throat as the officers quickly breached the house.
Lord Jesus, please keep Grady safe in Your care!
Lauren hugged Lucy close as the seconds stretched into minutes. The not knowing was agonizing. Then finally the cops emerged with a younger man and a woman in handcuffs.
Grady? Was he . . .
Then she saw him coming out of the house. Without taking time to think it through, she pushed open her door and ran across the street toward him. She threw herself into his arms, and Grady gathered her close, pressing a kiss to her temple.
“It’s over,” he whispered near her ear. “Jerry Cromwell is dead.”
“Did you . . .” She didn’t finish. Really, it didn’t matter if he’d been forced to kill the man who’d abducted her twenty-five years ago.
“No, I managed to snag Simon when he came into the room looking for Lucy.” Grady leaned back to look into her eyes. “I disarmed him and marched him downstairs. Karla gave in quickly; she wasn’t armed. Jerry shot himself rather than risk going back to prison.”
“Thank you, Grady. For everything.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him in for a kiss.
He kissed her back, and she wished again that it was for real. That Grady cared about her as much as she cared for him.
Not cared, she quickly amended. Loved. She’d fallen in love with her fake fiancé/bodyguard.
Yet the nicest thing she could do for him was let him go.
She ended the kiss and pulled away. “I, um, need to get back to Lucy. She’s scared out of her mind and doesn’t have a coat.” Realizing she was babbling, she forced herself to stop and take a breath. She looked Grady squarely in the eye. “Thank you for saving my daughter.”
“It’s the least I could do.” His expression was solemn. “I’m going to make sure Rex reimburses you for my fee. I didn’t do my job as well as I had hoped.”
“There’s no need.” Her heart sank as she realized she was just a job to him. “Lucy’s kidnapping was my fault, not yours. You risked your life for her more than once. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. For us.”
“Ms. Chandler?” Lieutenant Olson’s voice had her glancing over. “What happened?”
Grady stepped forward. “I found Lucy, climbed in to rescue her, and managed to grab Simon, disarming him.” As he went on to describe how the events in the house unfolded, she glanced over to where Lucy was sitting in the car, her face pressed against the window.
Leaving Grady wasn’t easy, but she forced herself to cross the street to join Lucy. Grady had his own life, despite how hers now seemed glaringly empty.
To her surprise, Grady came over a few minutes later. He opened the back door, and asked, “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, please,” Lucy said. “I’m cold.”